The Voice of Women Conference & Awards is set to mark its 10th anniversary with a gathering of women leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, young women and advocates from across Nigeria.
The Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, in partnership with Women Radio WFM 91.7, will host the 10th edition of the Voice of Women Conference & Awards (VOW2026) on Tuesday, October 6, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Themed “A Decade of Voices and Impact,” the anniversary edition will bring together participants from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to reflect on a decade of advocacy and empowerment while examining the issues and opportunities that will shape the next decade for women and girls.
Among the prominent figures expected at the event are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON; business leader and philanthropist, Apostle Folorunso Alakija; Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi; and Hansatu Adegbite, alongside other leaders and stakeholders.
Looking Beyond the Past Decade
While the 10th edition will celebrate the growth and impact of the Voice of Women platform since its inception, the organisers say the conference will place significant attention on the future.
One of the major sessions, “The Power of Women: Across Generations — Shaping What Comes Next,” will bring women from different generations and fields together for an intergenerational conversation on leadership, experience, fresh perspectives and collective action.
The conference will also examine women’s participation in political leadership, with five women contesting the 2027 elections expected to be featured in conversations around women’s representation and participation in decision-making.
The organisers say the broader objective is to create a platform where established leaders, grassroots women and younger women can engage in the same national conversation.
From Conversation to Economic Opportunity
VOW2026 will also combine advocacy and dialogue with practical economic support.
As part of the anniversary programme, Asha Microfinance Bank will provide grants to 10 women, supporting their economic aspirations and providing opportunities to translate empowerment into tangible outcomes.
The event will also recognise individuals and institutions contributing to the advancement of women, families and society through the VOW2026 Awards.
Award categories include the Lifetime Achievement Award, Family-Focused Organisation Award, Gender-Balance Empowerment Company Award, Social Media Innovation Award, Woman of the Year Award, Government Agency Supporting Women & Families Award, and Civil Society Organisation Supporting Women & Families Award.
A National Conversation
Over the past decade, the Voice of Women Conference & Awards has evolved into a platform for advocacy, leadership, empowerment, recognition and dialogue on issues affecting women and families.
The 2026 edition is expected to attract women leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, civil society organisations, development partners, media professionals and advocates.
For those unable to attend physically, the conference will be broadcast across television, radio and digital platforms, extending participation beyond the venue in Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, Convener of the Voice of Women Conference & Awards and Executive Director of the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, said the milestone represents both a celebration of the platform’s journey and an opportunity to define its future.
She said the platform had spent the past decade creating space for women to speak, be heard and contribute to conversations shaping society, adding that VOW2026 would focus on the kind of impact the organisation hopes to create in its next decade.
With its 10th anniversary edition, the Voice of Women Conference is positioning VOW2026 as more than a celebration of the past. It is a gathering designed to connect the experiences of today’s women leaders with the aspirations of the next generation — while keeping women’s voices at the centre of conversations about Nigeria’s future.
VOW2026 holds on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.
